Method of vehicle operation in a mixed mode

Abstract

The invention provides a method and system for a vehicle to shift between an autonomous mode and a manual mode, and vice versa. This shifting is dependent on multiple criteria, including but not limited to extra weight/items/property inside the vehicle, passengers inside the vehicle, one or more sensors and/or counters, whether the vehicle is in park, and whether the vehicle is entirely empty. The invention also includes several components such as users, vehicles, a central processor, and maintenance/central stations. According to one embodiment, no passengers are permitted on board the vehicle when it is in autonomous mode, and the vehicle will be on the road for an extended and longer amount of time compared to rental vehicles because the vehicles can automatically drive to a new user/recipient or towards a maintenance station, thus utilizing the time during which the vehicle would otherwise be idle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for operating vehicles in a mixed mode, comprising:
 receiving a request from a user's device for a vehicle,   providing said vehicle to said user,   said vehicle comprising a control unit and one or more item sensors, said one or more item sensors detecting one or more items of said user within said vehicle,   the control unit of said vehicle being communicatively coupled to a central processor,   the central processor being communicatively coupled to said user's device, said central processor determining a mode of said vehicle, said vehicle having a manual mode of operation and an autonomous mode of operation, said vehicle being provided to said user via said autonomous mode,   wherein said vehicle automatically shifts from said autonomous mode to said manual mode via steps comprising:
 determining that the vehicle is parked, and 
 determining via said one or more item sensors that said one or more items of said user are present inside the vehicle, 
   wherein the vehicle automatically shifts from said manual mode to said autonomous mode via steps comprising:
 determining that the vehicle is parked, 
 determining that said user has permanently exited the vehicle, and 
 determining via said one or more item sensors that all of said one or more items of said user are removed from the vehicle. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the automatic shift from said manual mode to said autonomous mode determines that said user is not present in the vehicle via one or more human sensors. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein a counter initiates after a detected item removal or after a detected user exit, said counter initiating based on said one or more items sensors or based on said one or more human sensors detecting said user exit or said item removal, said counter stopping based on a second detected event via said one or more human sensors or via said one or more item sensors. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said counter delays any automatic shift from said manual mode to said autonomous mode. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said counter determines a time relationship between any user exit from the vehicle and any removal of said one or more items of the user from the vehicle. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said counter determines a time relationship between a removal of any one of said one or more items of the user from the vehicle and a replacement thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said counter determines a time relationship between a user exit from the vehicle and a return of said user to the vehicle. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said counter determines a time relationship between a removal of a first one of said one or more items of the user from the vehicle and a removal of a second one of said one or more items of the user from the vehicle. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the automatic shift from said autonomous mode to said manual mode further comprises determining that a maintenance of said vehicle is not required. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said maintenance of said vehicle comprises refueling, recharging, cleaning, and/or repair of each vehicle. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein, after determining that said maintenance is required, the vehicle is delivered in said autonomous mode from a first location to a second location, the second location being a maintenance location. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more item sensors comprise weight sensors, infrared sensors, lasers, video sensors, audio sensors, or radio frequency sensors. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more vehicles are transported from said user to a second user via said autonomous mode. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the central processor sends a secure key to said user, said secure key allowing the user to access the vehicle. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more vehicles are transported from the first user to a next location different from a location of the second user, said next location being input by the second user. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle delivers one or more items to one or more users in said autonomous mode. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the central processor further sends additional signals to the vehicle, said additional signals including locations of additional items, said vehicle carrying a plurality of items. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said vehicle transports items to an array of recipients, said items being detected by said one or more item sensors, wherein a detected presence of items maintains said vehicle in a delivery mode, and wherein a detected absence of items causes said vehicle to return to said central station. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein each recipient of said array of recipients receives a notification from said central processor, said notification comprising a destination location and a time of arrival. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein each recipient performs a removal of one or more items from said vehicle once said vehicle arrives at said destination location, wherein said one or more item sensors detect an item removal, after which said vehicle continues to a next destination location.